Evaluation of the in vitro biological activities of extracts from carob tree and mediterranean oaks

Dissertação mest., Engenharia Biológica, Universidade do Algarve, 2009In this work it was determined the antioxidant, neuroprotective and anti-hyperglycemic activity of methanol (MeOH), hexane and water extracts made from two species of Mediterranean oaks, Quercus suber L. (cork oak) and Quercus ilex L. (holm oak), and Ceratonia siliqua L. (carob tree). Additionally, a phytochemical evaluation was made. The extracts were made from different organs or products namely leaves, fruits, pulps, germ flour, gum and stem bark from carob tree and leaves and acorns from Quercus species. Samples were collected from mature trees growing in the Algarve. Acorns from cork oak were also sampled in Alentejo, to check for the influence of geographic origin on the biological activities of the extracts. Moreover, a thermal treatment (‘dry roasting’) at 200 ºC was applied to a part of the acorn samples, and compared to the results obtained in samples dried at 50 ºC. The chemical profile varied in all the parameters, the MeOH extracts were richer in phenolic compounds, which were present in higher amounts in leaves (Quercus species), and in leaves and stem bark (carob tree). Acorns had a considerable amount of phenolics and lipids. There was a great variation in the major compound between samples. Methanol extracts from leaves, acorns and stem bark exhibited an interesting antioxidant activity. The leaf extracts from the two species had a high inhibitory activity against acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase. The extracts had no relevant activity against α-amylase, but a potent inhibitory activity on α-glucosidase from baker’s yeast. Altogether, these results indicate that leaves and stem bark from carob tree, and acorns from cork oak and holm oak have bioactive compounds useful in the prevention/treatment of the above mentioned disorders. Further research is needed in order to identify the bioactive compounds, trough a bio-guided fractioning of the extracts

Biotechnological applications of selected macroalgae

IBBA Strategic Planning - Workshop III, Plant Biotechnology Ponta Delgada, 25 Janeiro, 2011

Nature through the eyes of chemistry: characterization of novel active molecules from Azorean Natural Products

Jornadas "Ciência nos Açores – que futuro?", Ponta Delgada, 7-8 de Junho de 2013.A área de Química de Produtos Naturais tem contribuído, grandemente, para a descoberta de fármacos e agroquímicos, entre outros, por meio do isolamento de substâncias ativas produzidas por diversos organismos. As novas moléculas têm grande interesse científico, económico, social e farmacológico podendo contribuir, em muito, para a saúde das pessoas e para a sua qualidade de vida. O rastreio de novos compostos com atividade biológica tem sido, recentemente, uma das prioridades da comunidade científica e os Açores, pelas suas características particulares e endemismos assumem particular importância nesta área de investigação. O estudo das potencialidades de plantas e organismos marinhos dos Açores tem sido desenvolvido na Universidade dos Açores/CIRN desde a década de noventa, usando a estratégia de investigação seguinte: (i) seleção dos organismos mais promissores para fins industriais e comerciais pela avaliação da sua atividade em ensaios biológicos diversos, (ii) extração, separação e identificação dos compostos bioativos e (iii) estudos da relação estrutura-atividade dos compostos bioativos isolados.ABSTRACT: The chemistry of Natural Products has contributed greatly to the discovery of pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals agents, among others, by the isolation of active substances produced by various organisms. The new molecules are of great scientific, economic, social and pharmacological importance and may contribute greatly to the people's health and their quality of life. The screening for new compounds with biological activity has been a recent priority for the scientific community and the Azores, by its particular characteristics and endemism is of crucial importance in this area of research. The study of the Azorean plants and marine organisms potential has been investigated in Azores University/CIRN since the '90s decade, using the following research strategy: (i) screening of the most promising organisms for industrial and commercial purposes by evaluating their activity in several biological assays, (ii) extraction, purification and molecular structure elucidation of the bioactive compounds, and (iii) studies of structure-activity relationships of the isolated bioactive compounds

Sapwood of carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua L.) as a potential source of bioactive compounds

Methanol (ME) and hot water extracts (WE) of carob tree sapwood (Ceratonia siliqua L.) exhibited high antioxidant activity and were rich in phenolic compounds, with the main compounds identified by HPLC/DAD as gentisic acid and (-)-epicatechin. The ME displayed a high in vitro antitumor activity against human tumoural cell lines and reduced intracellular ROS production by HeLa cells after treatment with H2O2. (-)-Epicatechin was shown to contribute to the cytotoxic activity of the ME. This is the first report on the biological activity of carob tree sapwood

Algae as food in Europe: an overview of species diversity and their application

ABSTRACT: Algae have been consumed for millennia in several parts of the world as food, food supplements, and additives, due to their unique organoleptic properties and nutritional and health benefits. Algae are sustainable sources of proteins, minerals, and fiber, with well-balanced essential amino acids, pigments, and fatty acids, among other relevant metabolites for human nutrition. This review covers the historical consumption of algae in Europe, developments in the current European market, challenges when introducing new species to the market, bottlenecks in production technology, consumer acceptance, and legislation. The current algae species that are consumed and commercialized in Europe were investigated, according to their status under the European Union (EU) Novel Food legislation, along with the market perspectives in terms of the current research and development initiatives, while evaluating the interest and potential in the European market. The regular consumption of more than 150 algae species was identified, of which only 20% are approved under the EU Novel Food legislation, which demonstrates that the current legislation is not broad enough and requires an urgent update. Finally, the potential of the European algae market growth was indicated by the analysis of the trends in research, technological advances, and market initiatives to promote algae commercialization and consumption.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Ecological quality of Azorean coastal waters.

International Conference on Coastal Conservation and Management in the Atlantic and Mediterranean. Estoril, Portugal, 12-17 de Abril de 2010

Fatty Acids of Selected Azorean Seaweeds.

11th International Conference on Applied Phycology. National University of Ireland, Galway, Irlanda, 21-27 de Junho de 2008

Noite Europeia de Investigadores

A secção UAciência é coordenada pelo Professor Universitário Armindo Rodrigues.Noite Europeia dos Investigadores (NEI), tradução de “European Researchers’ Night”, é um evento anual que teve início em 2005, como parte do programa Europeu Horizonte 2020. O evento foi criado com o objetivo de aproximar o público em geral dos cientistas e a investigação que desenvolvem, e promover o interesse pela ciência e pelas carreiras científicas. A Noite dos Investigadores, ocorre sempre na última sexta-feira de setembro e assinala-se em várias cidades europeias. Em 2023, foi celebrada a 29 de setembro em 26 países em simultâneo. (…)info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Fatty acid composition of selected macrophytes.

Copyright © 2013 Taylor & Francis.The content of total lipids and the fatty acid (FA) profile were determined for eight macroalgae (Cystoseira abies-marina, Fucus spiralis, Chaetomorpha pachynema, Codium elisabethae, Porphyra sp., Osmundea pinnatifida, Pterocladiella capillacea and Sphaeroccoccus coronopifolius). Total lipids were extracted using a solvent mixture of methanol/chloroform (2/1, v/v) and further derivatised to FA methyl esters (FAME). The analyses of FAME samples were performed by gas chromatography coupled to a flame ionisation detector. The total lipid content ranged from 0.06 to 3.54 g (per 100 g). The most abundant saturated FA were palmitic (C16:0) and myristic (C14:0), while oleic (C18:1 n-9) was the dominant monounsaturated acid. All seaweeds contained linoleic FA (C18:2 n-6). The α-linolenic (C18:3 n-3) and eicosapentaenoic (20:5 n-3) acids were present only in Porphyra sp. (3.34% ± 0.13) and C. pachynema (0.47% ± 0.12), respectively. The n-6/n-3 and h/H ratios were low, suggesting a high nutritional value of the algae studied

Extracts from Quercus sp acorns exhibit in vitro neuroprotective features through inhibition of cholinesterase and protection of the human dopaminergic cell line SH-SY5Y from hydrogen peroxide-induced cytotoxicity

In this work non polar (hexane) and polar (methanol and hot water) extracts of cork oak (Quercus suber) and holm oak (Quercus ilex) acorns were evaluated for the first time for in vitro neuroprotective properties, by determining their in vitro inhibitory activity against acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) and their capacity to attenuate hydrogen peroxide-induced injury in the human dopaminergic cell line SH-SY5Y. Total content of phenolics, tannins and flavonoids, HPLC profile of the main phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity were also determined. The methanol extracts showed inhibitory activities against AChE and BChE. The best results toward AChE were obtained with cork oak extract (69.4% inhibition at the concentration of 1 mg/ml), while for BChE the highest inhibition (46% inhibition at the concentration of I mg/ml) was obtained with holm oak. Moreover, methanol extracts were able to prevent oxidative stress-induced cytotoxicity in SH-S5SY cells. The methanol extract of holm oak exhibited the highest RSA, with values of 63.8% and 49.7% on DPPH and ABTS radicals at the concentration of 1 mg/ml, respectively. In general the extracts exhibited no reducing potential. The methanol extract from cork oak acorns had the highest content in phenolic compounds (25.2 mg GAE/g, DW), while the water extracts had the maximum level of flavonoids (1.7 mg RE/g, DW). Tannins were present in higher amounts in the water extract of holm oak (91.6 CE/g, DW). The main compounds in the methanol extract from holm oak acorns were (-)-epicatechin and catechol, while gallic acid and (+)-catechin were the main constituents of the methanol extract from cork oak acorns. Our results indicate that cork and holm oak acorns provide a valuable source of biomolecules useful for alleviating symptoms associated with Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative ailments. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved